264 CHAPTER XV 



Composition. — The United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture" gives the following analysis of the parts of the oat : — 



Ash. Protein. Fibre. Carbos. Fat. 



Oat grain ... 3-3 13-3 lO'T 67-1 5-6 



Oat kernal ... 2-2 16-0 VO 131 Tl 



Oat hull ... 7-2 3-6 32-0 56-1 I'l 



The hull is seen to be very high in fibre, and the kernel 



contains a large percentage of fat and protein. The straw of 



oat hay has a higher feeding value than the straw of any of the 



cereals. 



" The proportion of straw to grain, while of course show- 

 ing no constant relation, is comparatively high in oats, gene- 

 rally estimated as two to one, while one and one-half to one in 

 wheat and one to one in maize." — Montgomery. 



Improvement. — The methods employed are essentially the 

 same as those outlined for wheat. 



In the Union improvement in oats should be regarded 

 from the following considerations : — 



(1) The isolation of biotypes having a small percentage 

 of hull. 



(2) Strength of straw. 



(3) Disease-resistant strains. 



(4) Early maturity. 



(5) High seed-producing strains. 



(6) Grazing types, i.e., slow, early development, strong 



root system, and of desirable stooling propensities. 



(7) Forage types, i.e., fine strawed and leafy. 

 Climate. — Oats are more restricted as regards climatic 



conditions than wheat, requiring a colder climate with a higher 

 rainfall. Its transpiration ratio is much higher than that of 

 wheat or barley. The following ratios have been obtained : — 



Oats. Barley. Wheat. Maize. Sorghum. Millet. 



614 540 607 368 322 275' 



The climatic conditions required for oats are very similar 

 to those required for potatoes. Some of the quick maturing 

 varieties, e.g., Boer and Burt, can be used as a catch crop 

 where wheat has been destroyed by Take-all. 



Soils. The oat crop is a " coarse " feeder as compared 

 with wheat or barley, which may be classed as " delicate " 

 feeders ; consequently it will thrive well on a greater variety of 

 soils than the last-named crops. Extra preparation of land for 

 oats is not so essential as for wheat. Very rich soil, especially 



